Letters to the Editor

Caption in left field

As someone whose father’s side of the family was Mennonite, I appreciated "When The Amish Make Choices" (Summer 2004). And as someone who grew up in a small Ohio town surrounded by farms, I think I remember enough to recognize that the young Amish man in the photo [at right] is steering (I think they call it "driving") a horse-drawn harrow, not a plow. As well as learning how to hold a baby, Ms. Matthews may also have to learn her farm implements. Or was the misidentification the work of the editor?

Lawrence Rupp ’58

New London, New Hampshire

Kate Matthews ’04 may well know her plow from her harrow. It’s the editor, suburban born and raised, who didn’t. Thanks for steering us straight.

While we’re making corrections, Matthews was an anthropology major, not sociology, and Angela Zombek ’04 majored in history, not biology. Our text boxes misidentified them. – Ed.

Remembering Peggy

I was surprised and pleased to have my beautiful, late daughter, Peggy ’79, turn up in Taking Note (Summer 2004). I expected the obituary and class notes mention, but your piece was a lovely bonus, thoughtful and true about Wooster connections. Here we are, some nine months after Peggy died, still reflecting in the glow of that remarkable memorial service, only to find that Wooster is still sharing Peggy’s story, honoring her life.

Words can barely express the ways in which the many Wooster connections I’ve made over the years have enhanced my life. I’ve moved around a lot, but my Wooster friends have stayed in touch, even if only at Christmas. To have Peggy share in that "Woo" bounty was just right for her, too. How comforting to know that Wooster continues to spawn lifetime friendships and caring connections.

Sally Pomeroy Trabulsi ’53

Allegan, Michigan

Success after shoes

As a Don’t Throw Shoes alum, I really enjoyed Eric Pfeffinger’s "But Seriously, Folks" (Summer 2004), about what other Shoes have done since their glory days of improv. I also have found that being good at "First Line/Last Line" translates into success after college (if one can call being a graduate student in political theory a success, or if it even constitutes life after college). In many of my interviews for Ph.D. programs, professors wanted to hear more about my improv experience. Although I’m not performing skits about the Hobbesian state of nature, I think my students appreciate my sense of humor. Certainly Shoes gave me the stage presence to handle questions on the fly.

Kevin Egan ’01

State College, Pennsylvania

Second time around

My son, David Massey, graduated in May with a degree in archaeology from the College. As is true for most of us, David’s educational experience at Wooster was enlightened by two constants: I.S. and the willingness of faculty to extend themselves not just as teachers but as mentors and friends. Nick Kardulias (archaeology) was to David what Richard Reimer, Hans Jenny, Gene Pollock, and E. Kingman Eberhart (economics) were to me. Thanks to many other faculty – Richard Bromund, Dianna Kardulias, John Siewert, and Anne Nurse, to name a few – who also contributed to David’s understanding of "fine teaching."

Betsy Crowell ’66

Dearborn, Michigan